Plano Police say U.S. Marshals issued a BOLO alert for Jeremy Fistel.
Before he appeared for an arraignment Thursday in Queens, New York District court, Plano Police arrested Jeremy Fistel a week before at his home after U.S. Marshals issued a Be on the Lookout for him.
“He answered the door, and they confirmed that it was him and took him into custody,” Jerry Minton with the Plano Police Department said.
Fistel was wanted by the NYPD after they tracked four threatening messages beginning in June to the office of State Assemblyman and leading New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani back to the Plano man.
“It’s been shown in the past where threats that were made online, some people actually follow through on them,” Minton said.
While there is no evidence that Fistel had a plot to carry out any threats, the arrest comes as law enforcement continues to respond to more hate speech.
“Any time that a threat has been known to the police department, whether it’s on a social media platform text, email, phone call, or in person, we have to take it seriously,” Minton said.
In March, Robert King was taken into custody in McKinney for making terroristic threats against ICE agents and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. King’s alarming social media posts included intentions to “open fire” if agents were seen in his neighborhood.
Earlier this week, the Texas Education Agency said it had received 281 complaints against teachers who posted negative comments about Charlie Kirk’s death.
“We do have to take it very seriously simply because we don’t know at the time whether or not some people may consider it a joke or if it’s going to be a serious, credible threat,” Minton said.
Fistel pleaded not guilty Thursday to 22 counts related to terroristic threats and hate crimes.
He’s now out on bond and is expected back in court in November.
A judge has ordered him to not have any communication with Mamdani.